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Yom Kippur : Is There Always Room for Forgiveness?

Yom Kippur : Is There Always Room for Forgiveness?

Last updated on: September 19, 2026 at 10:45 am by Susan P Lax

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Yom Kippur : Is There Always Room for Forgiveness? 2026-09-19T10:45:08-04:00 Susan P Lax

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Forgiveness shows up in different aspects of our lives, to ourselves, to another, and perhaps even to a wider audience. | An Open Heart-Photo-cyrus gomez

Making Room for Forgiveness

Every year as Yom Kippur approaches, I find myself meeting forgiveness at my door.

Asking the same question: Where does forgiveness fit on the current page of my story?

In an unexpected way, this year the question shifted.

Is there always room for forgiveness?

When Forgiveness Comes Knocking

This Rosh Hashanah, I listened to various rabbis’ sermons about the state of the world, Jews, Israel, America, and the world around us.

Rabbi Sharon Braus , Rabbi Angela Buchdal,

Rabbi David Ingber all brought me inspiration.

Some evoked hope. Others, despair.

Some required me to face difficult truths, while others renewed the importance of keeping my voice strong.

They offered me new paths to consider in this newly formed world.

And then, that familiar sound of forgiveness came knocking at my soul’s door.

For the first time in three years, I found myself willing to allow my heart to explore forgiveness in a renewed way.

Forgiveness is not simple

When I first started out on my spiritual journey one of the things that stuck was the concept that there is always room for joy.

That possibility is within each of us, individually.

Practicing awareness and mindfulness helps keep that possibility in the light.

As Yom Kippur, this day of atonement, nears, I wonder: is it the same for forgiveness?

I understand that for each of us, and in every situation, forgiveness can have a different place.

Forgiveness is Not Simple.

When the Other Person Doesn’t Change

Forgiveness shows up in different aspects of our lives, to ourselves, to another, and perhaps even to a wider audience.

Rambam (Maimonides), in Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentance, teaches that when we have caused harm, true repentance requires more than simply saying we are sorry. It asks us to change our behavior and return to “the good and the path of righteousness.”

But what happens when the person who has caused the hurt does not change?

Do we hold on to resentment, anger, or even a desire for revenge?

And what if forgiveness is no longer about the other person at all?

Perhaps forgiving someone is a gift to us, even if the other doesn’t recognize their wrongdoing.

Making Room in Your Heart

I want to believe that possibly, forgiveness frees up room in the heart.

Room for something other than the hurt.

Room for more good moments and perhaps more joy.

For me, forgiveness this Yom Kippur is a gift I give myself.

It sits quietly in the halls of my soul, welcoming room for the possibilities of hope and joy.

This year, as I open the door to forgiveness, I can feel my heart opening in new ways.�

You can find more of my heart’s inspirations here @slaxmorninginspiration and In the songs I co-created for The Heart to Heart Songbook

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About Susan P. Lax

SUSAN LAX is a spiritual guide and was the author for 16 years of Morning Inspiration, an email newsletter that was released three times a week. Susan is the author of the book A HEART’S LANDSCAPE: An Invitation to the Garden of Moments. As well as the co-creator of the album::THE HeEART to HEART SoONGBOOK", where her Morning Inspirations were composed and sung by Shira In addition, she is the co-owner of Naot Footwear, a company that ethically manufactures handmade comfort shoes. Visit susanplax.com. You can read more about the author here.

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